Shannon Sharpe is being sued again? An explainer…

Right around the time that now-former ESPN talent Shannon Sharpe was settling a $50 million sexual assault lawsuit, reports started circulating about a different lawsuit that he and Nightcap co-host Chad Johnson were dealing with.

At the time, the details (and sources) seemed iffy. But now, credible outlets are reporting on the legal matter. And so, we figured it would be a good time to get caught up on the latest in a long line of legal issues for Sharpe, whose pockets are already feeling a little lighter these days.

Let’s figure out what this newest lawsuit is about.

Remind me, what was with this lawsuit Shannon Sharpe just settled?

In April, a woman filed a $50 million lawsuit, accusing the Hall of Fame tight end of “assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery” when she was 19. The 57-year-old Sharpe categorically denied the allegations and referred to the lawsuit as an “egregious attempt at blackmail” while threatening to countersue. His legal team released salacious text messages and publicly identified the accuser, who then responded by releasing voicemails that depicted Sharpe threatening her. He “temporarily” stepped away from ESPN and First Take, but continued doing his Nightcap podcast.

In mid-July, the accuser’s lawyer announced the two sides had settled, though the details and specific financial amounts have not been made public. About a week later, it was revealed that ESPN parted ways with Sharpe in the aftermath.

But you’re saying there’s a new lawsuit? 

Well, technically, it’s an old lawsuit, so bear with me. In April, a woman named Jimalita Tillman filed a lawsuit against Sharpe and Johnson over comments they made about a viral incident involving her, Usher, and some cherries.

Usher? Like, the singer Usher? 

Yeah, so Usher has this thing at his concerts where he will go around handing out cherries to fans, who can then do whatever they might like to do with said cherries. Sometimes, he incorporates himself in the cherry challenge as well.

And this is one of those?

Indeed. Tillman, who is from Chicago, was attending a Usher concert in London when she found herself face-to-face with the singer. In a clip that went viral, she is seen letting Usher feed her a cherry in a seductive way, and it would be fair to say that she appears to be enjoying the encounter. Tillman soaked up her 15 minutes, doing local news appearances where she said people were calling her “Auntie Cherry.”

So what do Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson have to do with this?

As I mentioned, the clip went viral, and the two hosts discussed it on the April 12 episode of Nightcap. During that discussion, they allegedly claimed Tillman was married and going through a divorce at the time, implying that this contributed to the dissolution of the marriage.

But that’s not true?

According to Tillman, she was not married or even in a relationship at the time of the Usher concert. It sounds as though someone sharing the clip on social media made that up, sparking the rumor.

Wait, you said they “allegedly” said it. Why can’t you say that outright?

The episode of the podcast was made private on their YouTube channel at some point, and that section is no longer available on their podcast feed.

Why didn’t she just reach out to them and tell them they’re wrong?

Tillman says she attempted to contact Sharpe, Johnson, and Shay Shay Media and asked for the clip to be taken down along with a public apology and retraction, but received no acknowledgment.

Why did she wait until now to file a lawsuit? 

She didn’t. She filed the defamation lawsuit on April 24 in Cook County Circuit Court, four days after the other lawsuit. This one moved to federal court in Chicago last week, which is when it started to gain attention.

How much is she suing for? 

$20 million.

Yowza! Has her life been damaged because of this?

Tillman says the amplification of those rumors affected her professional and personal life, including her work as director of the Harold Washington Cultural Center and her homeschooling advocacy. “Every time I enter a meeting for funding, for programming, and activations and things, it comes up. I’m tired of being the punchline when it comes to that aspect,” she told Complex.

Does she have a case? 

We’re not lawyers; we have no idea. Don’t try to get us in trouble.

Why does this sound so familiar?

An ESPN-related show host amplifying a presumably false rumor about a woman and then getting threatened with legal action and refusing to apologize sounds familiar because it’s basically what Pat McAfee just went through with Ole Miss student Mary Kate Cornett. McAfee recently apologized to her and her family on-air, and it’s unknown if there has been any kind of legal settlement.

Is this lawsuit part of why ESPN and Sharpe parted ways?

There’s no way for us to know that. For her part, Tillman says the timing is coincidental. “I don’t got nothing against that man, but at the end of the day, I will protect my name,” she told Complex.

Have Sharpe or Johnson said anything about this lawsuit since it became news?

Nope.

What happens now? 

The lawyers representing Sharpe, Johnson, and Shay Shay Media must file a response by August 22.

Is there some grand lesson we’re supposed to take away from all of this? 

Well, here’s what Tillman wants to impart on Shanon Sharpe, Chad Johnson, and anyone else with a public platform.

“Just throwing the word ‘allegedly’ in does not get it done. Do the due diligence. That’s what you have producers for and researchers for. Don’t be so quick to chase the popular culture story, and I think that there needs to be changes at a federal level that is regulating these streamers, these podcasters, and all of these people that are calling themselves news media outlets that are monetizing false information that most people may not have the courage to stand up for themselves. And I say no more.”